For individuals who hoped to see the the extremely anticipated and incessantly canceled battle rebooked this 12 months, the UFC government didn’t supply a lot encouragement throughout a Reddit Q&A on Wednesday afternoon.

Requested how assured he’s in seeing the battle in 2020, White wrote, “Not very. I’m afraid what is going to occur if we attempt to make that battle occur once more.”

Followers and MMA observers collectively groaned once more earlier this month when the coronavirus pandemic led to the fifth cancelation of the matchup, the primary occasion of UFC 249 on April 18. Nurmagomedov stated he was marooned in his native Dagestan after being turned away in what he stated the UFC advised him was the occasion’s location in Abu Dhabi. Unable to depart his nation, the UFC light-weight champ selected to look at stay-at-home tips issued to forestall the unfold of the virus. Ferguson was rebooked towards Justin Gaethje at UFC 249’s new location on tribal land in Lemoore, Calif., earlier than political strain led to the occasion’s postponement.

Now rescheduled for Could 9 in Jacksonville, Fla., UFC 249 is about to host Ferguson vs. Gaethje in an interim light-weight title bout. Nurmagomedov, who’s at present observing the Ramadan vacation, expects to be again in motion in August or September.

Nurmagomedov has welcomed the concept of assembly the winner of UFC 249’s foremost occasion, and White beforehand has stated the winner will battle for the undisputed belt. However throughout at the moment’s chat, White expressed extra pleasure at seeing a rematch between Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, who met at UFC 229 in probably the most profitable pay-per-view within the promotion’s historical past. Nurmagomedov received by fourth-round submission and has repeatedly dismissed a rematch.